Young mum, 25, suffers severe breathing problems after using dodgy St Tropez fake tan which should have been recalled
Doctors say Lucy Fowler, 25, is lucky to still be here after 'near-death' experience
FAULTY fake tan "almost killed" a young step-mum who was rushed to hospital with chest pains just seconds after bronzing her legs.
Doctors told 25-year-old Lucy Fowler she is lucky to be alive after using recalled St.Tropez Instant Wash Off Face and Body Spray - despite buying it three years after it sparked safety fears.
The telesales woman says she has been so rocked by the shock health scare that she is now even too scared to spray deodorant.
"I felt my chest tighten seconds after spraying my legs," said Lucy from Nottingham.
"I thought maybe I had used too much when I started to feel strange.
"I could taste it all coming out of my mouth and feel it in my lungs.
"Suddenly I knew something was wrong and I called for an ambulance. I needed help straightaway."
Paramedics rushed Lucy to hospital where she was given oxygen while they investigated the cause.
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When Lucy told medics she blamed the £10 fake tan, they looked at her like she was paranoid, she said.
But after calling St.Tropez HQ they discovered the month-old product Lucy had used was actually recalled three years ago.
"The doctor came in to see me and said 'you are very lucky to still be here'," said Lucy.
"If I had left it any long things could have got a lot more serious."
Lucy was forced to take a week off work just weeks after starting her new job.
She spent four days straight in bed recovering from her terrifying ordeal.
Speaking to The Sun on her 25th birthday, poorly Lucy said: "I'm scared of using anything like fake tan again.
"I'm even frightened of using deodorant at the moment.
"I can't believe that I almost died - that I was nearly killed by fan tan.
"It was such a scary experience."
In 2013 the new instant tanning spray, which featured a naked Kate Moss on the packaging was withdrawn because of safety fears.
Makers of St.Tropez Instant Wash Off Face and Body Spray issued a confidential safety recall to high street and online stores after reports of women experiencing breathing problems if they accidentally inhaled the spray.
Although it is no longer being made or sold, it is believed Lucy bought the product in the past month - but she can't remember where from.
St.Tropez is now reassuring customers that this is an "isolated incident" which they are thoroughly investigating.
They have warned fake tan users not to purchase the affected instant spray.
A St.Tropez spokesman told the Sun: "We were very concerned to hear about Lucy Fowler's experience and have made contact with her to find out which product she used and ascertain her progress.
"We take the health and safety of our consumers very seriously, and we have begun an investigation to establish exactly how Lucy was able to purchase this product recently."
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